Dactylorhiza viridis

Frog orchid or long-bracted orchid
Flowering stem
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Orchidoideae
Genus:	Dactylorhiza
Species:	D. viridis
Binomial name
Dactylorhiza viridis (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase
Varieties [1]
D. v. var. virescens D. v. var. viridis
Synonyms [1]
List Chamorchis viridis (L.) Dumort. Coeloglossum viride (L.) Hartm. Coeloglossum viride subsp. eurasiaticum Selander Entaticus viridis (L.) Gray Gymnadenia viridis (L.) Rich. Habenaria viridis (L.) R.Br. Himantoglossum viride (L.) Rchb. Orchis viridis (L.) Crantz Peristylus viridis (L.) Lindl. Platanthera viridis (L.) Lindl. Satyrium viride L. Sieberia viridis (L.) Spreng.

Dactylorhiza viridis, the frog orchid, is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae. ^[2] It has also been treated as the only species Coeloglossum viride of the monotypic genus Coeloglossum. ^{[3] [4]}

Description

The plant arises from fleshy, forked roots and ranges in height from 10 to 55 cm (3.9 to 22 in). The leaves of D. viridis are 5–14 cm (2.0–5.5 in) long and 2–7 cm (0.8–2.8 in) wide; leaves at the base of the orchid are obovate to elliptical, while leaves higher on the stem become lanceolate. Two to six leaves are found on one plant, and leafing is alternate.

The inflorescence of the orchid is a dense raceme (spike-like cluster) containing 7 to 70 small flowers. Flowers are greenish in color, and often tinged with purple, reddish, or red-brown color. The flowers are subtended by conspicuous long, tapering bracts which are 1–6 cm (0.4–2 in) long, with the lower bracts longer and typically greatly exceeding the length of the flower. The sepals are oval with little or no point, 3–7 mm long and 2–4 mm wide and dark green. The sepals join with the petals to form a hood opposite the labellum (lower petal) of the flower. Petals are long and narrow, 3.5–5 mm long and about 0.5 mm wide, and curve inwards. The labellum is strap-shaped and usually split at the very tip to form two or three tooth-like divisions, with the middle tooth smaller than the others. It is 5–11 mm long and 1–4 mm wide. A 2–3 mm long nectar spur projects behind the labellum. ^[5]

Dactylorhiza viridis flowers in late May and early June. It is either pollinated by bees and small wasps, or reproduces autogamously by incoherent pollinia; that is, the pollinia crumble and some pollen falls on the stigma, fertilizing the flower. ^[6]

In North America, Dactylorhiza viridis can be mistaken for Platanthera flava (the pale green orchid), but can be best distinguished by the labellum, which is notched at the apex and does not have the tubercle of P. flava.

Taxonomy

Dactylorhiza viridis was named Satyrium viride by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It was moved to the genus Dactylorhiza in 1997 by Richard Bateman, Alec Melton Pridgeon, and Mark Wayne Chase. It is classified as part of the Orchidaceae family. ^[1]

The species has two accepted varieties: ^[1]

• Dactylorhiza viridis var. virescens
• Dactylorhiza viridis var. virescens(Muhl. ex Willd.) Baumbach

Dactylorhiza viridis has 91 synonyms of the species or one of its varieties according to Plants of the World Online. ^{[1] [7] [8]}

Table of Synonyms

Name	Year	Rank	Synonym of:	Notes
Chamorchis viridis(L.) Dumort.	1827	species	D. viridis	≡ hom.
Coeloglossum bracteatum(Muhl. ex Willd.) Parl.	1860	species	var. virescens	= het.
Coeloglossum bracteatum var. kashmiricumSoó	1929	variety	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum coreanum(Nakai) Schltr.	1920	species	var. virescens	= het.
Coeloglossum islandicum(Lindl.) Kom.	1927	species	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum kaschmirianumSchltr.	1920	species	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum nankotaizanense(Masam.) Masam.	1968	species	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum taiwanianumS.S.Ying	1975	species	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum vaillantii(Ten.) Schur	1866	species	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride(L.) Hartm.	1820	species	D. viridis	≡ hom.
Coeloglossum viride var. akaishimontanumSatomi	1969	variety	var. virescens	= het.
Coeloglossum viride subsp. bracteatum(Muhl. ex Willd.) K.Richt.	1890	subspecies	var. virescens	= het.
Coeloglossum viride var. bracteatum(Muhl. ex Willd.) A.Gray	1867	variety	var. virescens	= het.
Coeloglossum viride f. bracteatum(Muhl. ex Willd.) Bolzon	1909	form	var. virescens	= het.
Coeloglossum viride f. brevibracteatumAsch. & Graebn.	1907	form	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride var. collinumRupp ex Walth.Zimm.	1912	variety	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride f. collinum(Rupp ex Walth.Zimm.) Höppner	1924	form	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride subsp. coreanum(Nakai) Satomi	1969	subspecies	var. virescens	= het.
Coeloglossum viride f. dentatumZapał.	1906	form	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride subsp. eurasiaticumSelander	1950	subspecies	D. viridis	≡ hom., not validly publ.
Coeloglossum viride f. gracillimumSchur	1866	form	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride f. grandiflorumZapał.	1906	form	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride f. integrumSoó	1970	form	var. viridis	= het., without indication of the type.
Coeloglossum viride var. interjecta(Fernald) Miyabe & Kudô	1932	variety	var. virescens	= het.
Coeloglossum viride subsp. islandicum(Lindl.) Selander	1950	subspecies	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride subsp. islandicum(Lindl.) Kreutz	2007	subspecies	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride var. islandicum(Lindl.) M.Schulze	1898	variety	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride f. islandicum(Lindl.) O.Gruss & M.Wolff	2007	form	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride var. labellifidum(Costa ex Vayr.) E.G.Camus	1908	variety	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride f. lancifoliumRohlena	1913	form	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride f. longibracteatumAsch. & Graebn.	1907	form	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride f. microbracteatumSchur	1870	form	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride f. parviflorumHöppner	1924	form	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride f. purpureumSchur	1866	form	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride var. rhenanumHöppner	1924	variety	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride f. roseumBolzon	1910	form	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride f. rubensNorm.	1893	form	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride var. subalpinumRupp ex Walth.Zimm.	1912	variety	var. viridis	= het., nom. illeg.
Coeloglossum viride f. subalpinumNeuman	1901	form	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride var. thuringiacumRupp ex Walth.Zimm.	1912	variety	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride f. thuringiacum(Rupp ex Walth.Zimm.) Höppner	1924	form	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride var. vaillantii(Ten.) Thell.	1914	variety	var. viridis	= het.
Coeloglossum viride var. virescens(Muhl. ex Willd.) Luer	1975	variety	var. virescens	≡ hom.
Coeloglossum viride f. virescens(Muhl. ex Willd.) O.Gruss & M.Wolff	2007	form	var. virescens	≡ hom.
Dactylorhiza viridis var. coreana(Nakai) N.S.Lee	2011	variety	var. virescens	= het.
Entaticus viridis(L.) Gray	1821	species	D. viridis	≡ hom.
Gymnadenia viridis(L.) Rich.	1817	species	D. viridis	≡ hom.
Habenaria bracteata(Muhl. ex Willd.) R.Br.	1813	species	var. virescens	= het.
Habenaria flava var. virescens(Muhl. ex Willd.) Fernald	1921	variety	var. virescens	≡ hom.
Habenaria viridis(L.) R.Br.	1813	species	D. viridis	≡ hom.
Habenaria viridis subsp. bracteata(Muhl. ex Willd.) R.T.Clausen	1949	subspecies	var. virescens	= het.
Habenaria viridis var. bracteata(Muhl. ex Willd.) A.Gray	1867	variety	var. virescens	= het.
Habenaria viridis var. interjectaFernald	1926	variety	var. virescens	= het.
Herminium nankotaizanenseMasam.	1932	species	var. viridis	= het.
Himantoglossum viride(L.) Rchb.	1830	species	D. viridis	≡ hom.
Orchis batrachitesSchrank	1786	species	var. viridis	= het.
Orchis bractealisSalisb.	1808	species	var. virescens	= het., nom. superfl.
Orchis bracteataMuhl. ex Willd.	1805	species	var. virescens	= het.
Orchis coreanaNakai	1914	species	var. virescens	= het.
Orchis ferruginea(F.W.Schmidt) F.W.Schmidt	1795	species	var. viridis	= het.
Orchis flava var. virescens(Muhl. ex Willd.) Green	1814	variety	var. virescens	≡ hom.
Orchis obsoletaMuhl. ex Willd.	1805	species	var. virescens	= het.
Orchis virensScop.	1771	species	var. viridis	= het.
Orchis virescensMuhl. ex Willd.	1805	species	var. virescens	≡ hom.
Orchis viridis(L.) Crantz	1769	species	D. viridis	≡ hom.
Orchis viridis var. labellifidaCosta	1877	variety	var. viridis	= het., nom. nud.
Orchis viridis var. labellifidaCosta ex Vayr.	1880	variety	var. viridis	= het.
Orchis viridis var. majorTinant	1836	variety	var. viridis	= het.
Orchis viridis var. vaillantiiTen.	1831	variety	var. viridis	= het.
Peristylus bracteatus(Muhl. ex Willd.) Lindl.	1835	species	var. virescens	= het.
Peristylus islandicusLindl.	1835	species	var. viridis	= het.
Peristylus montanusSchur	1866	species	var. viridis	= het.
Peristylus virescens(Muhl. ex Willd.) Lindl.	1835	species	var. virescens	≡ hom.
Peristylus viridis(L.) Lindl.	1835	species	D. viridis	≡ hom.
Peristylus viridis var. bracteata(Muhl. ex Willd.) Blytt	1861	variety	var. virescens	= het.
Peristylus viridis var. macrobracteatusSchur	1866	variety	var. viridis	= het.
Platanthera bracteata(Muhl. ex Willd.) Torr.	1843	species	var. virescens	= het.
Platanthera islandica(Lindl.) Kraenzl.	1931	species	var. viridis	= het.
Platanthera nankotaizanensis(Masam.) Masam.	1932	species	var. viridis	= het.
Platanthera viridis(L.) Lindl.	1829	species	D. viridis	≡ hom.
Platanthera viridis var. bracteata(Muhl. ex Willd.) Rchb.f.	1851	variety	var. virescens	= het.
Platanthera viridis var. densifloraRegel	1868	variety	var. viridis	= het.
Satyrium alpinumF.W.Schmidt	1793	species	var. viridis	= het.
Satyrium bractealeSalisb.	1812	species	var. virescens	= het.
Satyrium bracteatumPers.	1807	species	var. viridis	= het., nom. illeg.
Satyrium ferrugineumF.W.Schmidt	1793	species	var. viridis	= het.
Satyrium fuscumHuds.	1762	species	var. viridis	= het.
Satyrium lingulatumVill.	1787	species	var. viridis	= het.
Satyrium virescens(Muhl. ex Willd.) Pers.	1807	species	var. virescens	≡ hom.
Satyrium virideL.	1753	species	D. viridis	≡ hom.
Sieberia viridis(L.) Spreng.	1817	species	D. viridis	≡ hom.
Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym  ; = heterotypic synonym

Distribution

Dactylorhiza viridis has a wide distribution across the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere, covering much of Europe, non-tropical Asia (Russia, Japan, China, the Himalayas, etc.), much of Canada and parts of the United States (Alaska, Northeast, the Appalachians, Great Lakes Region, Northern Great Plains, and Rocky Mountains). ^{[1] [9] [10]} It is typically found growing in moist, rich soil in wet meadows, moist or wet deciduous woods and thickets, ^[11] and is frequently found on steep slopes.

Ecology

Dactylorhiza viridis is mainly pollinated by beetles and a wide range of Hymenoptera including ants. ^[12]

This orchid species is able to form symbiotic partnerships with a variety of mycorrhizal fungi including Ceratobasidium sp., Epulorhiza anaticulata , Moniliopsis anomala, Rhizoctonia sp., Tulasnella cucumeris and Tulasnella calospora. ^{[13] [14]}

Chemistry

The chemistry of a variety that has been known as bracteatum is complex, featuring a wealth of bioactive constituents, at least seven of which are peculiar to the plant. Known compounds found thus far to be present are 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (=Gastrodigenin), 4,4'-dihydroxydibenzyl ether, 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenylmethane (see Xenoestrogen), 4-(4-hydroxybenzyloxy)benzyl alcohol, gastrodin, quercetin-3,7-diglucoside (see Flavonol glycoside), thymidine, loroglossin, militarine, dactylorhin A, dactylorhin B, β-Sitosterol and daucosterol. ^[15]

References

1. "Dactylorhiza viridis (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 7 October 2025.
2. Chen, Xinqi; Gale, Stephan W. & Cribb, Phillip J. "Dactylorhiza viridis". Flora of China. Vol. 25. pp. 115, 117.
3. Sheviak, Charles J. & Catling, Paul M. "Coeloglossum viride". Flora of North America. Vol. 26. p. 580.
4. Stace, Clive (2010). New Flora of the British Isles (3rd ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 870. ISBN   978-0-521-70772-5.
5. "Coeloglossum viride: UW-Stevens Point Freckmann Herbarium: Plant Details Page". Wisplants.uwsp.edu. Archived from the original on 2013-05-15. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
6. "Coeloglossum viride (L.) Hartm. var. virescens (Muhl.) Luer". Botany.wisc.edu. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
7. "Dactylorhiza viridis var. virescens (Muhl. ex Willd.) Baumbach". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 7 October 2025.
8. "Dactylorhiza viridis var. viridis". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 7 October 2025.
9. Biota of North America Program, 2013 county distribution map
10. Altervista Flora Italiana, Celoglosso Long Bract Frog Orchid, Coeloglossum viride (L.) Hartm., Accepted name: Dactylorhiza viridis (L.) R. M. Bateman, Pridgeon & M. W. Chase includes European distribution map
11. "NPWRC :: Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants". Npwrc.usgs.gov. 2013-02-02. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
12. Claessens, J.; Seifert, B. (2018). "Ant pollination of Dactylorhiza viridis". Orchid Digest. 82 (3): 154–158.
13. Hadley, G. (1970). "Non-Specificity of Symbotic Infection in Orchid Mycorrhiza". New Phytologist. 69 (4): 1015–1023. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.1970.tb02481.x.
14. Currah, R. S.; Zelmer, C. D.; Hambleton, S.; Richardson, K. A. (1997). "Fungi from orchid mycorrhizas". Orchid Biology. pp. 117–170. doi:10.1007/978-94-017-2498-2_4. ISBN   978-90-481-4837-0.
15. Huang, Sheng-Yang; Li, Guo-Qiang; Shi, Jian-Gong; Mo, Shun-Yan; Wang, Su-Juan; Yang, Yong-Chun (2004). "Chemical constituents of the rhizomes of Coeloglossum viride var. bracteatum". Journal of Asian Natural Products Research. 6 (1): 49–61. doi:10.1080/1028602031000119826. PMID   14989381. S2CID   22113039.

External links

• 
   Media related to Dactylorhiza viridis at Wikimedia Commons
• 
   Data related to Dactylorhiza viridis at Wikispecies
• Den virtuella floran - Distribution